An Alvaston man locked himself in his flat for FOUR YEARS because he was so ashamed of his 51-stone weight.

Paul Stevenson, who lives in Crewton Way, said from the age of 19 after the death of his mother he would binge on three or four take-away meals per day - getting them delivered to his flat. He was living off pizzas, chips and cobs.

In 2015, he estimated he weighed 51 stone. He was so big his scales maxed out just below his actual weight.

Paul Stevenson from Derby shut himself in his home for four years because he weighed 51 stone. This shows what he looked then and how he looks now.

It then came to the point when the now 36-year-old - who is 5ft 10ins tall - realised if he kept living the lifestyle he was he would end up dying sooner rather than later. He then took the brave step asking for help from a doctor.

“I stayed in my ground-floor flat every day for four years because I was so embarrassed with the way I looked. I didn’t have it in me to go out – it just became a normal way of living for me. I’d have about three take-away meals a day.

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"I couldn’t bring myself to open my front door through panic, shutting myself off from my friends and family.”

He said he leaving his house for the first time in four years in April 2016 was a “surreal” moment.

“A friend picked me up so I could go to the hospital for a pre-op appointment and I remember it being a nerve-wracking moment. He took me on a tour of Derby before I got to the hospital.

“I remember seeing the velodrome (Derby Arena) for the first time and I went around Breadsall where I grew up."

Paul Stevenson is now getting his life back on track

After reducing his weight to 42-stone, Paul underwent an NHS sleeve gastrectomy operation at Royal Derby Hospital in the summer of 2016.

The operation, performed by the NHS, saw surgical staples used to permanently remove a portion of his stomach. The operation leads to the patient feeling full quicker but it also alters some of the hormone balances in the body which helps keep feelings of hunger at bay.

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He says having this operation is the reason he is still alive today. And he is now fitter than ever before. He goes to the gym six days a week, runs the Sinfin Moor Social Club football team and another local five-a-side team.

"I owe the NHS everything, they have saved my life after giving me the gastric sleeve."

Paul has lost 30 stone in 18 months and has recently set up a fund-raising page to help pay for a skin reduction operation as he is still has excess skin which he wants removed. His stomach surgery, which costs around £8000 privately, was paid for by the NHS but excess skin removal is not available under the NHS as it is classified as cosmetic surgery.

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He says on the page: "The biggest issue I have now is the sheer amount of excess skin that's ruining my day to day life."

He is looking to raise a total of £15,000 and has so received more than a fifth of that figure from generous donations.

Paul now wants to help other people who are going through similar weight and obesity issues.

Recently he has done a series of speeches across the country, including one in Westminster, about the troubles he’s had. The Westminster event was organised by the Medical Technology Group (MTG) which promotes wider adoption of medical technology devices for NHS patients.

Paul Stevenson with MP Maggie Throup during a recent event which he spoke about his life experiences

Chair of the MTG Barbara Harpham said: "Medical technology - anything from an app to a wound dressing or an artificial heart - is the key to getting people back to work and back to being a part of their local community.

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"Not giving patients access to these lifesaving and life re-affirming devices is simply a false economy for the NHS."

Paul said: “It’s been an absolute privilege and honour to do these speeches. It makes me so proud. If I can do it then anyone can do it - I was potentially Derby's fattest man at one point.

“Once I’ve had this operation I hope to get back into work. I’m delighted to have my life back – I feel like a new man.”

Paul said he was looking forward to life in 2018.

"I want to get back into work," he added.

"I'm happy to do any kind of job - the dream job would be to help people with obesity issues. After this skin access operation I will be able to wear clothes that fit me again and I can be part of the community again."